Dr. Spaw?

I'm still reseraching surgeons trying to narrow my search down to just a few.  I have several on my "short list" right now.

Anyway, I've recently emailed Dr. Spaw & to my surprise, he has emailed me back.  I'm still waiting on one more reply from him (he asked for a synopsis of my medical history, etc.) but overall I'm happy with his responses & his promptness. 

Has anyone done to Dr. Spaw?  I'm considering VSG...anyone use him for this?  Please share your experience with me.  What pre-op did he require?  Prices? Post op care?

Dr. Spaw is a very good gastric surgeon.  I did not have him, but I have many friends who did and love and sing his praises tremendously.  I think you will find on this board that we who are local (Nashville) are very supportive of the choices that are here.  I don't know of a single one in the area who would be a bad choice... 

I went to Centennial and love my doctor very much.  But, I love the other doctors in the area as they have been a true Godsend to my friends and I have seen lives transformed as a result of the surgeons here.  Best of luck in choosing your surgeon and I hope that you're able to get your questions answered.  I am confident that you will  :)

 

 

Thank you for your reply.  I have found that there are wonderful things about each doctor that's on my list.  I guess it's going to come down to what will work best for my family financially & otherwise.  Even though price isn't the #1 factor in my decision, it is one of my deciding factors. 

I guess a little prayer for guidance is needed.  I need to just be still and let Him guide me to the right decision.

I know this might sound very strange...  but after you do your research and talk to the different doctors and go to their seminars, it will "click" for you and somehow, you just know which one you are meant to choose...  I have experienced that in my life, and I've heard others say the same thing... you just know that you know...  I'm sure that you will know soon... 

Thanks.  I'm hoping that's what happens.  I'm tyring to plan to attend his next seminar early next month.  And I'm waiting on a return call from his office.

Dr. Spaw did my sleeve in January, 2008, and the intestinal portion of the DS this past February.   I recommend him and his office highly.

When I first met him, I was disappointed that he didn't want to do what I wanted him to do.   I guess I was pretty angry.   I talked with my PCP about it, and he said "Oh, he just doesn't 'get' you." and encouraged me to pursue surgery, even if it wasn't the one I really wanted.   He (the PCP) is fairly new to Nashville, but had a lot of nice things to say about Dr. Spaw, even so.

I had known Dr. Spaw's reputation from much earlier.   He was one of the first surgeons doing laparascopic surgery in Nashville.   He's really well respected here.

Personally, I have come to see that he was right, in not wanting to do the entire DS in one step for me.   I had a truly spectacularly easy surgery both times.   I have a feeling that, had I gone ahead with the entire DS in one step, that wouldn't have been the case!

The intestinal part of it was done open, and you ought to see my scar.   It's a thing of beauty, indeed.   The places that the staples came out are probably as noticeable as the main surgery scar!   The incision line is about the width of a BIC pen line.  

For me, his personality, bedside manner whatever you call it is pretty much what I need.   He's enthusiastic about what he does and about the results his patients get.   He let me leave the hospital when I wanted to, which I think concerned him a little bit.   I don't think he could believe that I could do as well as I was doing.   He called me at home to check up on me before the weekend, just in case.

I was very sick going into it.   When I was talking with my PCP, and I told him that Dr. Spaw had declined to do the entire DS, I admitted that on paper, I really sound scary.  Worse than I am in reality.    PCP laughed and said "No, you pretty really are much a trainwreck looking for a place to happen."   Which sounds cruel, but I was a nurse, and I did know exactly what he was talking about.   And I have to say that most people would probably have folded under my determination to have the DS all at once.   Dr. Spaw didn't, and now that I have had both parts of my surgery, I really admire him and am glad that he didn't let me over-ride his opinion.

Dennie